MEET THE TEAM

Sumedha Rao is the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. She is committed to catalyzing robust, inclusive, and collaborative solutions for a greener Louisville!

Sumedha has a background in urban sustainability, environmental policy, and green building in the United States and India. Currently, Sumedha also serves on the boards of the Kentucky Solar Energy Society and the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. In 2022, Sumedha was named a Future Leader by the Aspen Institute, among 100 climate leaders in North America under the age of 30.

Sumedha holds a master’s degree in Sustainability Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from St. Joseph’s College in India, and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED AP, accreditation.

Gianna is the Communications Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. She passionate about using media, art, and technology to exchange culture and promote the wellness of all residents of Louisville.

She holds a BA in Anthropology from Hanover College and a Certificate in Publishing from NYU. Gianna is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Panama 2019-2020) and previously served as the Development Coordinator at Americana Community Center. Gianna volunteers with grassroots organizations in and out of the US to build digital content and online representation.

Jake Medley is the Green Economy Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. He is committed to giving back to his city in various ways, and in this office will seek to lower industry emissions through business relationships and insights he gained working in Louisville Metro’s Economic Development Office, among other initiatives.

Prior to government work, Jake worked in business development in San Francisco, where he aimlessly spent his 20s hiking in nature. He is a 2015 graduate of Centre College and is proud to back in his hometown with his sleeves rolled up!

Alex is the Sustainability Coordinator for the Mayor's Office of Sustainability. Alex's passion for sustainability started while he was growing up around a neighborhood nature preserve in Austin, TX, and grew as he witnessed firsthand the drastic impacts of climate change in the western United States. Previously, he was a sustainability analyst with UPS in Atlanta, GA, and before that, he was an AmeriCorps Fellow with Sacramento County in California, where he conducted the county’s first entirely in-house greenhouse gas inventory. Alex looks forward to making Louisville a more sustainable and resilient city!

Maria Tori is the Sustainability Specialist for the Mayor's Office of Sustainability. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Justice and Sustainability from Bellarmine University, has published a chapbook of nature-inspired poetry through Kentucky’s own Finishing Line Press, and is a certified Naturalist and Science Advocate. She is passionate about reframing science communication through the lens of storytelling and building a community-centered, greener Louisville.

Zachary Tyler is the Energy Manager for Louisville Metro Government.

Originally from Winchester, Kentucky, he graduated with a degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Kentucky, with certification from the Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky. He then worked as an energy consultant for UK to help the university realize emissions reductions commitments.

Zachary also spent a year in Amazonas, Brazil as a Fulbright scholar to conduct research regarding reforestation techniques.

Spencer Ruggles is the Energy Analyst for Louisville Metro Government, figuring out ways to reduce energy consumption, curb carbon emissions, and cut its expenditures on utilities.

Spencer graduated from Centre College with a degree in Financial Economics and from Saint Louis University with a degree in Sustainability. He previously worked as a Rate Analyst for the Michigan Public Service Commission in Lansing, MI. He also worked as an Energy Specialist for Cenergistic under contract with the University of Kentucky where he helped implement energy conservation measures in research, hospital, and academic facilities. Most recently, he's worked as a Sustainability Specialist at Cushman & Wakefield on an account with Humana to help the company develop emissions reduction and waste diversion programs and practices.